What would you do if money was not an issue?
If you had asked me that question 10 or so years ago I would have answered the question with a few of my own... Does this mean I am rich? Am I retired? Am I dead? Do I have an unending line of credit? Can you give me some more information please - I would like to make the most of this opportunity!?! Questions like those reveal a major stumbling block for Christians in an affluent culture. In light of this we need a strong dose of behold!!
Granted, we do not make frequent use of "behold" in our daily conversations. This is likely why some Bible translations will say "see" or "look" instead of "behold". I understand using modern language to communicate a thought. Yet what I do not understand is why, at times, translations completely omit the word (e.g., the NIV in both Rev21:3 and Rev21:5). Behold is used to prompt us to take our eyes off our present circumstances. We are to (literally) look up...even see things (in part) from God's perspective. [Maybe I will cover behold in another post, but for now back to...]
Again, the opening question - What would you do if money was not an issue? I ask this question because of what John wrote in verses 18 and 21 (v18 The wall was built of jasper, while the city was pure gold, like clear glass....v21 And the twelve gates were twelve pearls, each of the gates made of a single pearl, and the street of the city was pure gold, like transparent glass...). Do not miss what is being communicated here. While it is possible the streets of Revelation are actually made out of gold, this is not the issue - at least something deeper is being communicated [see end note #1 at bottom of post]. When we allow an image/symbol to breathe - well it is breathtaking.
One issue we see in Rev21:18,21 is a beautiful - and challenging - irony. Gold is valued more than almost anything else on earth (especially for monetary worth - in John's day and even ours with the "bull run" gold recently). Yet John tells us what people will trample and kill other people for here on this fallen earth is only good enough for the feet of the saints in the new heaven and new earth!! That is beautiful - and challenging - at the same time.
It is beautiful because it reminds us all humans are made in God's image and therefore have inherent worth, value, and dignity (cf. Gen1:27). It is challenging because finances surface often in Revelation. The issue pops up in the oracles to the seven churches (Rev2-3) and with the beasts of Revelation 13. It is present again in the destruction of "Babylon" in sobering ways (cf. Rev18-19). In light of the low economic status of many to whom Revelation was addressed, God says they will have access to the "water of life without payment" (Rev21:6) - and yes gold is only fit for the feet of His people (Rev21:18,21).
In light of these things, how do you view money? In your hands is it a tool with which you can truly bless the Kingdom by blessing others? What would you do if money was not an issue?
This is a timely topic as we are in the season of Advent - NOT Christmas - right now. But alas, that is another post for another day...
So, what would you do if money was not an issue?
#1 Remember, Revelation uses symbolism to communicate truths - in profound ways (e.g., Rev21:12 a "great high wall, with twelve gates..." - this would communicate safety and security in the ancient world as gates were for defensive purposes. Yet just a bit later, in Rev21:25 we read "and its gates will never be shut by day...". So what gives? Huge walls and gates for security that are never shut? Exactly, there is no need to shut them because evil is gone (cf. Rev21:1). When we allow a symbol to breathe is is breathtaking for us...
Showing posts with label Questions. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Questions. Show all posts
Thursday, December 8, 2011
Thursday, December 1, 2011
What Would You Do If...? [4]
How else should the truths contained in Revelation 21-22 shape us?
What would you do if you knew you were loved and valued? While it may seem like a frivolous question; the reality is the answer to this is foundational for human behavior.
Every single person I know walks with a limp. In other words, things have happened to them...and they leave a mark. Some of these "things" have been done intentionally by others to inflict hurt. Other "things" have been done in ignorance by people who love them - yet they still hurt. Either way the truth remains, what happens to us shapes us. As a result we look for significance and meaning in a variety of wrong places (e.g., material things, job titles, improper sexual fulfillment/attention, tearing others down, drugs, etc.).
Read again John's words in Revelation 21:9-11,
9 Then came one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls full of the seven last plagues and spoke to me, saying, “Come, I will show you the Bride, the wife of the Lamb.” 10 And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great, high mountain, and showed me the holy city Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God, 11 having the glory of God, its radiance like a most rare jewel, like a jasper, clear as crystal.
I am sure you noticed John is going to see the bride, the wife of the Lamb. By taking concepts from other passages (e.g., Matt25:1-13; Eph5:25-32) we know "she" is The Church. This deduction is made concrete here in Revelation 21. Yet added to this picture is how the holy city Jerusalem is also the bride...which is The Church. So, more than a place, the concept being communicated here is about a people - God's people.
Speaking of God's people, the first description is that of a rare jewel, like a jasper. The first time this stone/jewel appears in Revelation is in chapter four, which is when John gets a picture of One seated on the throne (Rev4:2 - God) who is described as having the appearance of jasper... (Rev4:3). In other words, the people of God (Rev21) look a lot like God Himself (Rev4). How is that for value? It sounds a lot like Genesis 1:27, So God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. Everyone has inherent dignity worth and value because they are made in God's Image. Granted, this image has been distorted due to the Fall...yet God's people are destined to again look a lot like Him.
Yet we need to remind ourselves that God has revealed these truths to us (e.g., Gen1:27; Rev21:9-11) so that our lives are changed. He wants us to live our lives with no doubt about our worth and value. If God's people truly did this it would ignite a revolution of sacrificial love and service. The truth is undeniable; the more inadequate we feel the more we are led to dwell on how bad we are, go into depression, attempt to "achieve" in order to look important, etc. Yet living out of an overflowing reality of who we are as God sees us sets us free from those things. And when we are free we are able to more fully love others around us (which is exactly what God does).
The longer I serve God the more I love people. If only people could see themselves as loved and precious (because you are), and therefore not seek attention in the myriad of ways it is touted by the world, the more addictions and destructive behaviors would be overcome...the more God's people (myself included) would truly live as redeemed people.
What would you do if... (how would your life be different) you knew you were loved and valued? Those who are most secure in their identity love others all the more - just think of Jesus.
What would you do if you knew you were loved and valued? While it may seem like a frivolous question; the reality is the answer to this is foundational for human behavior.
Every single person I know walks with a limp. In other words, things have happened to them...and they leave a mark. Some of these "things" have been done intentionally by others to inflict hurt. Other "things" have been done in ignorance by people who love them - yet they still hurt. Either way the truth remains, what happens to us shapes us. As a result we look for significance and meaning in a variety of wrong places (e.g., material things, job titles, improper sexual fulfillment/attention, tearing others down, drugs, etc.).
Read again John's words in Revelation 21:9-11,
9 Then came one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls full of the seven last plagues and spoke to me, saying, “Come, I will show you the Bride, the wife of the Lamb.” 10 And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great, high mountain, and showed me the holy city Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God, 11 having the glory of God, its radiance like a most rare jewel, like a jasper, clear as crystal.
I am sure you noticed John is going to see the bride, the wife of the Lamb. By taking concepts from other passages (e.g., Matt25:1-13; Eph5:25-32) we know "she" is The Church. This deduction is made concrete here in Revelation 21. Yet added to this picture is how the holy city Jerusalem is also the bride...which is The Church. So, more than a place, the concept being communicated here is about a people - God's people.
Speaking of God's people, the first description is that of a rare jewel, like a jasper. The first time this stone/jewel appears in Revelation is in chapter four, which is when John gets a picture of One seated on the throne (Rev4:2 - God) who is described as having the appearance of jasper... (Rev4:3). In other words, the people of God (Rev21) look a lot like God Himself (Rev4). How is that for value? It sounds a lot like Genesis 1:27, So God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. Everyone has inherent dignity worth and value because they are made in God's Image. Granted, this image has been distorted due to the Fall...yet God's people are destined to again look a lot like Him.
Yet we need to remind ourselves that God has revealed these truths to us (e.g., Gen1:27; Rev21:9-11) so that our lives are changed. He wants us to live our lives with no doubt about our worth and value. If God's people truly did this it would ignite a revolution of sacrificial love and service. The truth is undeniable; the more inadequate we feel the more we are led to dwell on how bad we are, go into depression, attempt to "achieve" in order to look important, etc. Yet living out of an overflowing reality of who we are as God sees us sets us free from those things. And when we are free we are able to more fully love others around us (which is exactly what God does).
The longer I serve God the more I love people. If only people could see themselves as loved and precious (because you are), and therefore not seek attention in the myriad of ways it is touted by the world, the more addictions and destructive behaviors would be overcome...the more God's people (myself included) would truly live as redeemed people.
What would you do if... (how would your life be different) you knew you were loved and valued? Those who are most secure in their identity love others all the more - just think of Jesus.
Friday, November 25, 2011
What Would You Do If...? [3]
How should the truths of Revelation 21-22 shape us? Remember, the only reason God reveals anything about Himself (which includes the future) is so that we conform to it. However, while reading the last two chapters of the final book of the Bible, it is understandable why it is often ignored. Yet we must not make the mistake of continuing to ignore Revelation (or abusing it) - the stakes are too high.
Let's take verse one of chapter 21, Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. This verse is easy to quickly read over with hopes of getting to the "good stuff". Yet in a sense the best stuff (at least the foundation for it) is contained right here.
The easiest, and perhaps most striking image is that of the sea being no more. While water lovers among us may bemoan this concept, we need to understand what is being communicated. In the Jewish mind the sea was the stock image for evil and chaos - it is the abyss. This can be seen in Daniel 7 where four evil beasts (four kingdoms) arise out of the sea. Likewise, in Revelation 13, one of the beasts emerges from the sea. So when a Jew (and early Christian) heard sea they did not think beach and relaxation...rather they thought evil and chaos. Therefore when John said "the sea was no more," he means all evil is gone. Can you imagine that, a future devoid of evil? And please, do not think "evil people". Rather, think evil - as in the sinful thoughts and desires that wreak havoc on your own soul. Won't it be amazing (truly liberating) for those to be gone?!? A future without "evil" - how hopeful!
John also saw a new heaven and new earth. This needs more explanation, but for now think of an old beat up car that has been restored to vintage (and maybe even better than) quality. That is this word for new. It is not "new out of nothing" new...but new in the sense of taking what exists and refining/purifying it. It is a lot like what God does with us (cf. 2Cor5:17).
So let's stop here for now. A future where both "heaven" and "earth" are refined and made new...and a part of this means no more evil is present. One of the many things this does is give us hope.
We do ourselves a tremendous disservice when we do not focus on this hope more. Somehow Satan has duped us into thinking heaven is escapist thinking and is of no help to daily life. How many of you have ever felt a bit uneasy (or "churchy" or "religious") about saying to someone who is suffering that "One day...all of this stuff will be gone when Jesus comes back and everything is made new." Granted, we should not make the mistake of offhandedly dismissing the pain and suffering of anyone. Yet neither should we make the mistake of failing to bring hope into the picture. What is the other alternative? A future without hope looks something like, "Well, I know it is bad now...but you know what...that's just the way it goes...it's rough for some but not for others...the luck of the draw I guess..." Yeah, that isn't much help. In fact, that is more rude and calloused than bringing in the truth of the new heaven and new earth.
In light of that, why not say something similar to, "I don't know why this has happened to you (your loved one, etc.)...but rest assured a day is coming when Jesus will return...this world will be refined...all who are faithful to God will be able to live in a new heaven and new earth...nothing evil will ever happen again...we will live in relationships of harmony and mutual love (but that is going into a future post)..."
In summary, what would you do if you reminded yourself that this world is temporary and something much better is in store for us? Remember, this does not ignore pain, suffering, evil, or anything like that. Rather, it gives us a way to face it square in the face and with confidence say "You will not have the last word...my God is going to make everything new!!"
Praise God for that!
What else would you do if...?
Let's take verse one of chapter 21, Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. This verse is easy to quickly read over with hopes of getting to the "good stuff". Yet in a sense the best stuff (at least the foundation for it) is contained right here.
The easiest, and perhaps most striking image is that of the sea being no more. While water lovers among us may bemoan this concept, we need to understand what is being communicated. In the Jewish mind the sea was the stock image for evil and chaos - it is the abyss. This can be seen in Daniel 7 where four evil beasts (four kingdoms) arise out of the sea. Likewise, in Revelation 13, one of the beasts emerges from the sea. So when a Jew (and early Christian) heard sea they did not think beach and relaxation...rather they thought evil and chaos. Therefore when John said "the sea was no more," he means all evil is gone. Can you imagine that, a future devoid of evil? And please, do not think "evil people". Rather, think evil - as in the sinful thoughts and desires that wreak havoc on your own soul. Won't it be amazing (truly liberating) for those to be gone?!? A future without "evil" - how hopeful!
John also saw a new heaven and new earth. This needs more explanation, but for now think of an old beat up car that has been restored to vintage (and maybe even better than) quality. That is this word for new. It is not "new out of nothing" new...but new in the sense of taking what exists and refining/purifying it. It is a lot like what God does with us (cf. 2Cor5:17).
So let's stop here for now. A future where both "heaven" and "earth" are refined and made new...and a part of this means no more evil is present. One of the many things this does is give us hope.
We do ourselves a tremendous disservice when we do not focus on this hope more. Somehow Satan has duped us into thinking heaven is escapist thinking and is of no help to daily life. How many of you have ever felt a bit uneasy (or "churchy" or "religious") about saying to someone who is suffering that "One day...all of this stuff will be gone when Jesus comes back and everything is made new." Granted, we should not make the mistake of offhandedly dismissing the pain and suffering of anyone. Yet neither should we make the mistake of failing to bring hope into the picture. What is the other alternative? A future without hope looks something like, "Well, I know it is bad now...but you know what...that's just the way it goes...it's rough for some but not for others...the luck of the draw I guess..." Yeah, that isn't much help. In fact, that is more rude and calloused than bringing in the truth of the new heaven and new earth.
In light of that, why not say something similar to, "I don't know why this has happened to you (your loved one, etc.)...but rest assured a day is coming when Jesus will return...this world will be refined...all who are faithful to God will be able to live in a new heaven and new earth...nothing evil will ever happen again...we will live in relationships of harmony and mutual love (but that is going into a future post)..."
In summary, what would you do if you reminded yourself that this world is temporary and something much better is in store for us? Remember, this does not ignore pain, suffering, evil, or anything like that. Rather, it gives us a way to face it square in the face and with confidence say "You will not have the last word...my God is going to make everything new!!"
Praise God for that!
What else would you do if...?
Thursday, October 20, 2011
What Would You Do If...? [2]
If you had a firm view of "heaven" in your mind - would your life be any different? This question begs another, "Just what can we know about 'heaven'?" (more on that later). Do you realize God wants what He has revealed about "heaven" to shape what it is we do in the present? Think about it, why has God revealed anything about Himself? So we change - right?
God has revealed Himself through creation (general revelation) so that people will respond by acknowledging something bigger than themselves. A response to creation ought to be something like "Wow!! This can't be an accident. I wonder what kind of God/being made all of this...does He care for little ol' me?!?".
God revealed Himself through Jesus, His Son, so that we would see, more concretely, what God's desires are. Ultimately, God desires the consummation of His Kingdom. Until that day (when Jesus returns to renew all creation) God desires the lives of changed people to impact and transform the world for His glory. A response to this revelation of God (i.e., Jesus) ought to include things like, "Jesus, save me!" "Jesus, You are my Lord!" "Jesus, I want to love people the way You love(d) people!"
God has revealed Himself through the Bible (His Word), so that we can have a record of Who God is, What God desires, and What God demands from us (this is a definition of prophecy offered by Shane J. Wood - I think it fits quite nicely for 'why the Bible' as well). When we read the Bible it is not merely to pass the time, learn something new, or make a check next to our Christian "to do" list. When we read the Bible we are to submit ourselves to It. In other words, we ought to realize Scripture is the subject and we are the object - it pokes and prods our lives...and we are to conform to it.
In light of all of this, since God has revealed so much about "heaven" - why do we do ourselves a disservice and insult God by not studying and reflecting on it more? Go ahead and read Revelation 21-22. What is the big picture here? How should concepts contained here shape us?
God has revealed Himself through creation (general revelation) so that people will respond by acknowledging something bigger than themselves. A response to creation ought to be something like "Wow!! This can't be an accident. I wonder what kind of God/being made all of this...does He care for little ol' me?!?".
God revealed Himself through Jesus, His Son, so that we would see, more concretely, what God's desires are. Ultimately, God desires the consummation of His Kingdom. Until that day (when Jesus returns to renew all creation) God desires the lives of changed people to impact and transform the world for His glory. A response to this revelation of God (i.e., Jesus) ought to include things like, "Jesus, save me!" "Jesus, You are my Lord!" "Jesus, I want to love people the way You love(d) people!"
God has revealed Himself through the Bible (His Word), so that we can have a record of Who God is, What God desires, and What God demands from us (this is a definition of prophecy offered by Shane J. Wood - I think it fits quite nicely for 'why the Bible' as well). When we read the Bible it is not merely to pass the time, learn something new, or make a check next to our Christian "to do" list. When we read the Bible we are to submit ourselves to It. In other words, we ought to realize Scripture is the subject and we are the object - it pokes and prods our lives...and we are to conform to it.
In light of all of this, since God has revealed so much about "heaven" - why do we do ourselves a disservice and insult God by not studying and reflecting on it more? Go ahead and read Revelation 21-22. What is the big picture here? How should concepts contained here shape us?
Wednesday, September 7, 2011
What Would You Do If...?
What immediately came to your mind when you read the title question for this post?
What would you do if ________?
Questions are powerful. It could be argued that without questions there would be no advancement (however we want to define that term) in society. It goes without saying that we are glad someone else asked, and answered, certain questions (e.g., I wonder what would happen if I squeezed that growth under the cow’s belly and then drank what came out of it? – OK, I think that is an old Jeff Foxworthy joke or something…).
Be those things as they may be, questions are powerful. In fact, it does not take much investigation to see how the questions being asked in a society play a major role (if not the major role) in shaping a society. Yet before a society is shaped we know individuals need shaped first – right? Evidently the questions you think about are important. Of course individuals can also be shaped by a society – as the society poses certain questions (e.g., advertisements).
How many times did you hear the question, “What are you going to be when you grow up?” Did that have an impact on you? If you are a parent, how many times have you asked that question? What might that question convey to your children?
If you are a parent how many times have you heard the question, “Mommy/Daddy, are we going to have any food to eat tonight?” Oh, perhaps that has not been asked of you. Evidently there are vitally important questions asked by many that others never even dream of having to ask.
Yet one question everyone has asked in one way or another – no matter your culture or economic level – is, “What does the future hold in store for me?” We all think about the future. In fact, whether we realize it or not, what we think about the future will dictate our decisions in the present. In light of that I think we can see that the questions we ask about the future are significant. What do you think?
What would you do if…?
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